Chris Perez

Harvey Shelters Need Art Supplies and Games for Displaced Families

August 29, 2017 by Chris Perez 4 Comments

Art Supply and Game Donation Drive

Hurricane Harvey continues to force thousands of families out of their homes and into shelters in Houston and surrounding cities.

We are hosting a drive for art supplies and board games that kids can use while in the shelters in Houston, Beaumont, Port Arthur and surrounding cities.

Some children and families are likely to be displaced for many days – and even weeks – while they wait for damages to be assessed, and the restoration efforts to begin. Beyond that, many schools and after-school programs have lost their supplies as well. We want to bring comfort while they are going through this incredibly difficult time. Currently, children over 10 are sorting clothing donations all day, and small children are left with little to do. Please help us.

In Austin, we are hosting a drive for art supplies and board games that kids can use while in the shelters in Houston and coastal cities. We will bring them to set up creation stations at George R Brown and other shelters once it is safe to get to the cities.

See below for our drop-off location We are happy to take other supplies that the shelters need, as well. Here’s a good list of items needed:

Art and Games (please no toys):

• Notebooks and sketchbooks
• Paper and construction paper
• Safety scissors, glue sticks
• Craft Supplies
• Stickers
• Markers, crayons, colored pencils, pastels
• Activity books
• Coloring books
• Board games for kids
• Playing cards

General donations (much needed):

• Socks
• Blankets
• Towels
• Large-size clothing
• Razors and Toiletries

Please bring donations to:
Left Right Media
2221 Holly St.
Austin, TX 78702

We will be collecting donations until Sept. 8.

If have any questions, please email bo@leftright.media.

5 Reasons Why Thinking Like A Publisher Can Help You Design A Better Website

June 29, 2017 by Chris Perez Leave a Comment

Design Websites like a Publisher

Whether you’re a business owner or have a career other than “doctor” or “lawyer,” you’ve probably come to realize how hard it is to talk about yourself to clients, friends, or potential customers. Talking about your company in the context of a website is even harder.

When developing any type of creative or content for an audience, it is a necessary skill to look at things from perspectives outside your own. Taking on the persona of a publisher early on in the development of your website redesign can help you create something with lasting brand impact.

Taking on the persona of a publisher early on in the development of your website redesign can help you create something with lasting brand impact.

If you’ve worked in the publishing industry, you know that marketing your content begins in creating it. Every article has a strategy, a promotional plan, a target audience, and a purpose.

This is something we learned early on as publishers of Citygram, and the editorial philosophy we established there guides all of our work today.

Here are five reasons why thinking like a publisher can help you create a great website:

1. People really do judge books by their cover.

If you’ve ever picked up a magazine from a newsstand, you’ve experienced the power of marketing. Great publishers know how to draw your eyes to their magazines – whether it be through celebrity, familiarity, or knowledge in a niche subject matter. With this in mind, great web designers design with intent, and should be able to grab your attention in the first three seconds you visit their site.

Imagery, along with the essential elements of color, type and overall layout, gives emotion and purpose to its content. Similarly, effective websites use imagery and text real estate strategically, to best utilize their screen space to tell a story and establish intent for the product, service, or business. If the design and marketing decisions align with the target audience AND the website features intuitive navigation, there is a greater chance of a sale or conversion on a website.

2. Content hierarchy matters. Guide your audience to what you want them to see.

If you saw the Oscar’s last year, you saw the cringe-worthy La La Land and Moonlight announcement flub.

Titles, subheads, section headers, pull quotes (like this one), sidebars – these are all elements that help a user read and understand the content.

When Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced that La La Land won best picture, they were actually holding the announcement card for Best Actress (Emma Stone).

But can you blame them? Look how little importance these cards give to the actual award. If the Oscar award card had better content hierarchy, “Best Actress” would have been in large print at the top of the card, not a footnote, and the announcers would have caught it before making such an embarrassing mistake.

Titles, subheads, section headers, pull quotes, sidebars – these are all elements that help a user read and understand the content. For a magazine, each page is an opportunity to draw a reader into an article or publication. For a website, each page or section is a chance to get the user engaged. Your message needs to stand out, and be understood clearly and quickly, for you to gather attention.

The way we quickly consume and interact with Facebook feeds, and other scrolling content on our devices, makes the importance of establishing dynamic and attention-grabbing elements on a page even more critical.

3. A great Art Director can tell the best stories.

It’s hard to imagine Vogue without Anna Wintour. Similarly, it’s hard to imagine the work of Anna Wintour, without stylist and creative director Grace Coddington, and the many number of photographers and artists they worked with to create the iconic imagery the brand has come to be known for throughout the years.

Photographs (and/or illustrations) are often the most important visual elements of any website, and creating compelling imagery that speaks to your brand or business does not happen by accident. Whether it be your team (or bio) photos, or dramatic lead image that says what your company does in one image, a great art director can not only conceptualize the vision of your brand’s story, but she also knows how to assemble the creative team of artists and photographers that will make it come to life.

4. Don’t underestimate the power of a good edit.

Great marketing copywriters know how to get their message across concisely, and with as few words as possible. A good edit can sometimes be the difference between a good story and a great story; an article that’s read and shared, versus one that’s glossed over.

The headlines and subtitles to the content sections of your website shouldn’t take these opportunities for granted.

A good edit can sometimes be the difference between a good story and a great story.

A test we like to employ on our site designs to check our success is to imagine taking all the images out of the web design. Does the text alone tell the story? Likewise, we imagine taking all the text out. Do the images explain what your company does, how you do it and give the consumer trust or connection to your product or service?

Back to the point of how people consume content these days… First, we got used to reading 144 characters for a complete story on Twitter. Then, we had to digest an entire story through one square image and (maybe) a caption on Instagram. And then, we had to do the same thing, but only if we saw an image before it disappears on Snapchat.

You must only include the most important information about your business, and do so in a way that captures your audience’s (very short) attention.

Now, on Facebook, Medium, LinkedIn, etc., people are sharing stories they come across based on their captivating headlines, and more-often-than-not, are sharing them without even reading the story at all. This is the attention span we’re working with online, y’all.

For websites, this means you have very little time to get someone’s attention, therefore you cannot include long-form articles with every detail of every thing you’ve ever done. We call that “Too Long, Didn’t Read.”

You must only include the most important information about your business, and do so in a way that captures your audience’s (very short) attention.

5. Get in front of your audience.

Finally, it’s all about access. Your great content (or website) has to get in front of people, and publishers pay for that visibility through distribution. Facebook (and Instagram) give any size business the opportunity to get in front of today’s consumer through News Feed, and to quote the New York Times, “If it’s an exaggeration to say that News Feed has become the most influential source of information in the history of civilization, it is only slightly so.”

A lot of business owners often groan about Facebook’s pay-to-play model, but, in our opinion, there is no greater marketing value than the one offered by the world’s largest social network. Facebook offers several media options for their ads, and often emphasizes video and the image carousel, because they know those work. Take time to invest in creative that is designed specifically for Facebook to draw consumers into your content.

Often, our clients ask us why they should choose to work with an agency vs. a freelancer when designing their website. We tell them that it is because we aren’t just web designers.

We aren’t just web designers. We’re storytellers.

We’re storytellers with experience conceptualizing and developing a brand’s story. As publishers we often work with and assemble teams of photographers, writers, editors, designers, illustrators to successfully bring stories to life on printed pages. As web designers, we do the same thing for all our clients and their websites.

[mk_divider style=”thin_solid”]
[vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1478273979302{background-image: url(http://leftright.media/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/austin-creative-agency-branding-logo-design-designer-designing.jpg) !important;}”][vc_column_inner][mk_padding_divider][mk_fancy_title color=”#ffffff” size=”40″ txt_transform=”uppercase” font_family=”none” align=”center”]Need a Web Redesign?[/mk_fancy_title][mk_fancy_title tag_name=”h3″ color=”#ffffff” size=”22″ font_weight=”bold” txt_transform=”none” font_family=”Oswald” font_type=”google” align=”center”]We can help![/mk_fancy_title][mk_button dimension=”savvy” size=”large” url=”http://leftrightmedia.wpengine.com/contact/” align=”center” outline_skin=”custom” outline_active_color=”#ffffff” outline_hover_bg_color=”#fff600″ outline_hover_color=”#000000″]CONTACT US[/mk_button][mk_padding_divider][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner]

What is a moodboard?

March 29, 2017 by Chris Perez Leave a Comment

Brand Development: Moodboards

A moodboard is a great tool to start any graphic design project, whether it is designing a logo, a website, or an entire app. It is a collection of graphic elements, images, colors, photography, text, materials, etc., that, when presented together, intentionally evoke specific emotions and associations from the viewer.

Moodboards are used in a lot of industries – fashion design, interior design, product design, graphic design, event planning, publishing, etc. In all cases, a moodboard sets the project’s tone, establishes a visual energy and, when done successfully, reflects the goals of the tasks at hand.

A moodboard sets the project’s tone, establishes a visual energy and, when done successfully, reflects the goals of the tasks at hand.

Think of a moodboard as a collage of magazine clippings you taped to your wall in middle school. Individually, each piece was something you liked, and together, the collage reflected your lifestyle (or aspirational lifestyle) as a whole.

How to Design a Moodboard

Before creating a moodboard, it is essential to get to know your client and understand the goals of the design project. In most cases, it’s best to understand the client’s goals for their business as a whole.

You want to gather all this information from a good creative interview.

Here are some basic questions to help you get started.

Logo Design:

1. Tell me about your business. How did it start? When? Who was involved?
2. What are 3-5 words you use to describe your business?
3. How do you describe your business to a stranger? How about to your mom? How would you describe your business to an 8-year-old?
4. Who are your competitors?
5. What makes your business unique?
6. Do you have a design vibe that you’re most attracted to? If so, tell me about it.
7. What turns you off? Let’s talk about why.

For websites, the interview is a little more in-depth. In addition to the branding questions above, these questions will help set the tone for a website.

Website Design:

1. What do people NOT know about your business that you wish they did?
2. What is the most common reason people visit your site?
3. What do you want people to do when they visit your website?
4. Who are your competitors?
5. What sites/design inspires you?
6. What key information do you want on a landing page? (contact info, email signup, etc).

With all of this information at your fingertips, and a bevy of inspiration, you’re ready to start your moodboard. We collect our inspirational materials from everywhere: pinterest, websites, magazines, photos, raw materials, packaging, colors, nature, typography, signage, etc. A great moodboard organizes these visuals, with the project’s defined color palette, in a template that shows how the elements interact well together.

Let’s explore some moodboards for a variety of projects.

Moodboard Examples

Client: UX Designer
Project: Logo Design + Branding

The purpose of this project was to formalize the client’s brand, and provide assets she could use on her website, marketing collateral and business cards. Wanting to play off the royalty of her last name (Winsor) the client requested a logo that was reminiscent of a family crest, or house of reign. She also wanted her logo to say what she does, which is design wireframes for complex websites and apps for large companies. During the interview process, the client also mentioned that she was attracted to jewel tones, and wanted a happy marriage between clean, modern lines with the timelessness of a regal symbol.

UX Designer Moodboard

Final Logo

Final Brand Suite

Client: Commercial Interior Design Firm
Project: Website Redesign

“Everyone assumes we do residential interior design, but we don’t.” This was one of the challenges the client faced with their current site. In addition to wanting visitors to immediately recognize that their specialty was commercial design, the client wanted to showcase their team’s positive energy. In other words, this woman-owned and operated business wanted the design of their site to portray their authority in the industry as well as their fun side.

The mood board is a chance to show the client how their work can connect with your vision. That’s why it’s often helpful to include a photo of the client’s work or portfolio to show how it can be elevated with your design.

Using a photo from their previous work and colors from their logo design, we showed how the two could work together to say sophisticated and commercial.

Interior Design Website Moodboard

Interior Design Website

Client: Consumer Product Startup – Travel Packages for Families
Project: Logo Design + Branding

This local Austin startup was founded on the belief that travel inspires confidence in children, and provides learning opportunities unlike any other. Because of that mission, the client in this case study wanted their brand to appeal to young children and adults alike. Above all, they wanted their products and their brand to empower families to travel.

When you have a project that needs to appeal to both parents and children alike, it is important to provide a mix of neutral tones and images in your moodboard that appeal to both groups. Show the versatility of being able to work with both, and user test with each audience to see if it captures the emotions and thoughts you want.

Travel Box Moodboard

Final Logo

Client: Boutique Hotel
Project: Logo Design + Brand Identity

Hotel St. Dorothy wanted the experience of staying at the hotel to be as inspiring as the brand’s namesake. The core inspiration behind the project was the client’s mother, who was a mother of six by day, and an extremely talented artist by night. Materials for the moodboard were inspired by and sourced from her original art, mid-century design and elements of luxury.

A successful moodboard for a place should allow the person to imagine the entire experience. For this project, that meant capturing the feel of checking in, dining, and staying at the hotel itself. It also meant providing multiple moodboards to capture the distinct and key experiences of a night in and a night out at the hotel.

Hotel Moodboard

Final Identity Suite

Other moodboard examples:

Mid-century Bar/Lounge Branding + Concept

Sign Language Interpreting Service Agency Website

Art Magazine Branding + Concept

Tech Startup Branding + Website

Bourbon Company Website

Creative Agency Branding + Website

Insurance Agency Website

[mk_divider style=”thin_solid”]
[vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1478273979302{background-image: url(http://leftright.media/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/austin-creative-agency-branding-logo-design-designer-designing.jpg) !important;}”][vc_column_inner][mk_padding_divider][mk_fancy_title color=”#ffffff” size=”40″ txt_transform=”uppercase” font_family=”none” align=”center”]Need a Brand Redesign?[/mk_fancy_title][mk_fancy_title tag_name=”h3″ color=”#ffffff” size=”22″ font_weight=”bold” txt_transform=”none” font_family=”Oswald” font_type=”google” align=”center”]We can help![/mk_fancy_title][mk_button dimension=”savvy” size=”large” url=”http://leftrightmedia.wpengine.com/contact/” align=”center” outline_skin=”custom” outline_active_color=”#ffffff” outline_hover_bg_color=”#fff600″ outline_hover_color=”#000000″]CONTACT US[/mk_button][mk_padding_divider][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner]

The Profound Beauty of a Muslim Country (a photo essay of Morocco)

February 9, 2017 by Chris Perez Leave a Comment

A few years ago, I had the special privilege to travel to Morocco with a directive not any more precise than to “document the artisans and crafts of Morocco.” The opportunity was beyond incredible, but in the eyes of some, it was to be feared. Morocco is a “Muslim” country.

I was joined by seven other remarkably talented individuals – writers, bloggers, designers – from Austin and Houston. I would be one of the “official photographers,” along with the outstanding Molly Winters, because someone else had recently dropped out.

Then, as a country just a few years separated from the September 11th attacks, we were stricken by a fear of the word “Muslims” because of the media’s all-too-frequent connection to the word “terrorist” right after. I assume it was because even then, travel to Morocco was regarded as dangerous and unsafe because of it’s ties to Islam, its established state religion.

My mother and father didn’t want me to go, nor did several other elders and relatives that I conversed with about the opportunity. I remember how caught off-guard I was with that then. And in today’s world, in a climate that seems to be even more accepting of a clinched fist reaction to a religion (that counts nearly a quarter of the world’s population as followers), I am even more so. What a shame.

I remember what I saw there.

I remember the beauty I felt privileged to witness.

And I remember what I discovered about myself while on the other side of the lens.

Before I was a Creative Director, before I was a graphic designer, and before I was a writer, I was a photographer.

Photography was one of the three primary factors that led me on the course to quit my engineering job, and towards my search for creative freedom.

It was something I had a knack for immediately, something for which I am so grateful for as it has given me the ability to tell this story. In fact, I remember precisely being in awe of a camera’s ability to make “instant art” the first time I went out on a shoot.

I especially had a knack for capturing moments – the unexpected instants of truth when no one is particularly looking. And during this trip, without much setup beyond a Canon 5D Mark III on a leather camera strap, I took some of the best photos I’ve ever taken. But it wasn’t the Canon – it was Morocco.

For seven days, I was inspired by a foreign country and an unfamiliar beauty I wasn’t expecting to find.

For seven days, I was in my element – inspired by a foreign country and an unfamiliar beauty I wasn’t expecting to find.

Though my current role in my business doesn’t often allow for the chance to engage in photography any more, this reminds me of why I started this journey.

This reminds me of why I belong here.

THIS is my masterpiece.

Discovering Rabat and Establishing Respect

Rabat is Morocco’s capital with a population just under 600,000.

My memory is otherwise fuzzy about the specifics of Rabat, but what does come back to me with crystal clarity while looking back at these photos are the emotions from these moments. These emotions defined my discovery of this city and established my respect for its residents.

On our first day in Morocco, we checked in at the office of our host, the Ministry of Tourism. We were escorted into a room with ceilings of hand-carved wood, and greeted with silver trays of handmade cookies of a seemingly uncountable variety. We were treated like diplomats. And the sincerity, warmth and respect they showed all of us, was something I wanted to reciprocate through my photos.

Being personally escorted by the Arts & Tourism division of Morocco was a revelation of the respect this country had for art, and it left me wishing our own government had a fraction of this regard.

RNot too far from the official building where we made our introductions is the Kasbah des Oudaia – a medina marked with corridors of pale blue.

The open plaza at the coast’s edge had a way of putting me – or better yet, humbling me – in scale to the world’s breadth. The colors and the independence of the Moroccans as they strode between the historic Kasbah walls as part of their daily routine will be something I always remember and appreciate.

The Hands of Casablanca

In Casablanca, we visited the largest mosque in Morocco and the 13th largest in the world, the Grande Mosquée Hassan II. There, the light was so perfect that it seemed to possess its own atmosphere. And there, the people within it glowed with an ethereal beauty and prominence. It made you feel their religion. It made you realize their devotion.

Both in the hands that created it, and the hands that pray within it.

This experience made me wonder why people in our country can fail, so easily, to see the beauty in a different faith? It is rooted in goodness, dedication and community, as are most faiths.

We toured the Complex Artisanal de Casablanca, which seemed like a monestary-meets-university for craftsmanship and heritage.

The study ranged from jewelry making and tile making, to hand-chiseled wood and plaster. The attentiveness of both student and professor in every classroom captured my attention and awe the whole time.

I have never been more tuned into my surroundings. Never more excited for what moment would present itself next. Because even though I was surrounded by both the artisans and their finished works, it was still almost impossible to imagine that hands – just like yours and mine – were creating these masterpieces. In a digital age where everything is so immediate, this dedication to craft was inspiring.

Silver Cookie Trays and Moroccan Rug Dealers

The Ministry of Handicraft (yes, that exists), had arranged for us to privately tour the mansions of rug dealers, cooperatives, and artisan entrepreneurs.

I immediately connected with the exquisite form of hospitality they all provided, and the raw beauty of the structures with wall to wall tapestries that looked like works of art framed against neutral tones of clay.

While the interior designers were procuring their selection of rugs by the hectare, I explored all the floors of the complex – seeing the family and their butlers prepare not just rug presentation but a silver plattered course of Moroccan cuisine (paella, chicken tagine) – and yes, more cookies.

A beautiful traditional Moroccan meal on the rooftop for the designers, for their guests.

This was our first chance to really talk with some of our hosts, I remember how in awe we were with how much respect and knowledge they had about our politics, and about our democracy. It was one of the most intelligent and un-biased dinner conversations I’ve ever had.

Marrakech

The pink city of Marrakech is also home to one of the most luxuriest hotels in the world (conceived and bankrolled by the King of Morocco himself). The Royal Mansour hotel is a private 5-star resort of riads and terraces. To give you an example of the clientele, Katy Perry was staying here for her 30th birthday celebration during our tour.

It was opulent without ostentation.

Morocco Day 5 –

Morocco Day 6 –

Morocco Day 7 –

Must-Sees for East Austin Studio Tour: 2016

November 11, 2016 by Chris Perez Leave a Comment

November 12-13 & 19-20 from 11am-6pm

This weekend will see the kick-off of what we think is perhaps the city’s most hallmark event. Back for it’s 15th year, the East Austin Studio Tour (East) is literally a self-guided tour to the hundreds of galleries, warehouses, homes, and studios in east Austin where art is made and where inspiration originates.

To get to know East, is to get to know Austin, and to get to know the collaborative spirit that has made it such a magnetic and energizing place in recent years. And as the city has grown, so has the tour and the ancillary events that support it. That’s why the great organizers at Big Medium have done something new this year, by sectioning the tour into four zones – each with their own handy map.

As long-time East-goers we also wanted to chip in and provide our top picks and note a few can’t miss stops. The whole team at LRM has culled through the entire East catalog, earmarked our favorites, and organized a list of the best of what East has to offer.

Here’s how to East!

East Must-sees

Zone 3

If you can only do one zone during East, this one is it. Within Zone 3’s borders is Canopy – a creative complex on Springdale road that has evolved to be a a home and community to many of Austin’s most influential artists. We recommend starting your tour at Canopy, as it is the most convenient way to see a large number of studios and feel the energy and excitement around the event.

X. East Group Exhibition – Canopy (photo by @leftrightmedia)

226. Felice House – Canopy (photo by @leftrightmedia)

222. Kiah Denson – Canopy (photo by @leftrightmedia)

241. Jenn Hassin – Canopy (photo by @leftrightmedia)

244. Sophie Roach – Canopy (photo by @leftrightmedia)

278. Gert Johan Manschot – Canopy (photo by @leftrightmedia)

Canopy
X. East Group Exhibition – Find your favorite artists and plan your studio tour route
216. Melissa Borrell – Paper, plastic, string, glitter
222. Kiah Denson – Acrylic, pen, ink, paper, canvas
223. Graham Franciose – Watercolor, ink, and gouache on coffee stained paper
224. Hallie Rose Taylor – Watercolor, pen, paper
226. Felice House – Oil on canvas paper, charcoal drawing
241. Jenn Hassin – Rolled paper, drawings, paintings
244. Sophie Roach – Pen and ink
252. Elizabeth Chiles – Photography, collage, textiles, books
270. Revi Meicler – Mixed media
272. Dinosauria – Art.Science.Gallery – Multiple mediums
274. Keith Kreeger – Porcelain
275. Dennis Burnett, Sarah Frankie Linder & Annie Ray – Photography, video
278. Gert Johan Manschot – Zen on Paper and Canvas
280. Steven Walker – Rock Photography Modern Rocks Gallery
281. William and Jessica Knopp – Son of a Sailor – Leather, brass, bronze, wood, gemstones

More East Must-sees

Pollen Architecture

138. Pollen Architecture – Open studio
142. take heart – Lucas Wade – Black ink on paper
152. Jerry Solomon – Ceramics and pottery
174-193. Tillery Studios – Various artists

Zone 2

Zone 2 is another great area that is home to a few larger studios and warehouses that house multiple artists and installations. We recommend starting at Pump Project – a 1,000 square-foot gallery space that has been an East mainstay for years. Get armed with a Best Wurst and a beer at the door, then explore the large gallery floor.

303. Rachel Wolfson Smith – Pump Project (photo by @leftrightmedia)

295. Seth Orion Schwaiger – Pump Project (photo by @leftrightmedia)

Pump Project
295. Seth Orion Schwaiger – Marble, alabaster, wood, graphite, synthetics
302. Caitlin G. Mccollum – Various mediums
303. Rachel Wolfson Smith – Graphite, gold leaf

MAKE ATX
318. Calder Kamin – Sculpture, recycled materials, digital art
320. Alexis Kraus – Bristol board, paper, wood, laser-cutter

Bolm Studios
334. Awst Press – Printed matter
340. Jana Swec – Acrylic and ink
345. Elise Powell – Illustrations in traditional and digital media

More East Must-sees

Andrew Reiner

315. Caitlin McClain – Stationary
48. Whitney Turetzky – Found photos, acrylic paint, embroidery thread, collage
50. Charles Henry – Silver gelatin prints
55. Jonathan Beall – Hammered copper, stainless steel, carbon steel, hot tin
59. Matthew Helveston – Wood and metal
83. Cindy Stinson – Cut paper
124. Andrew Reiner – Large scale photography

April Sullivan

Zone 4

Zone 4 is for the explorers. In this corridor of east Austin, you can literally find a good parking spot then take to walking and exploring the various home studios in the area. Along that walk you’ll notice a varied landscape of architecture and a blend of old and new Austin. If you’re hungry stop by some of the great east Austin taco joints like our favorite Taco Guerrero.

360. SHDW Studios – Photography
367. Michael Yates – Splinter Group – Furniture objects
382. Aaron Michalovic – Wood, paint, glue
397. Pei Sim – The Paper + Craft Pantry – Hands-on workshops
398-404. Revelry Studio – Various artists
430. Bob Trevorrow – Ceramics
431. The Room Gallery – Photography
446. Emma Gundlach – Cartography
447. East Side Collective – Various
490. Jennifer Chenoweth – Fisterra Studio – Various artists
501. April Sullivan – Yarn

Laura Barth Turner

Zone 1

Zone 1 doesn’t have the density of the other areas, but there are still plenty of great stops. Definitely make a visit at some of these stops on your way into our out of the tour.

15. Laura Barth Turner – Photography
17. Lauren McPhail – Oil on linen, collage, ink on paper

Click the banner above to find out how we’ve pledged to help women-owned and/or operated businesses.

Event Top Picks

There are a few stand out events every year, and we encourage you to make one of these part of your East itinerary.

Afterhours poster show 2016 opening
November 11 – 6:30-10pm
Lewis Carnegie
1312 E. Cesar Chavez St.

Part poster show, part nonprofit fundraiser for Austin Pets Alive, Afterhours promises a great opening night of East with some stunning posters, beverages an illustration competition.

ADW 2016 Closing Party: Keynote + Designers on the Verge
November 11, 6-9pm
Canopy/invenio
916 Springdale Rd.

Austin Design Week finishes up an incredible week tonight with a keynote from notable designer James Victore. Stick around for music and drinks and to explore the Canopy complex. With hundreds of East stops within its walls, Canopy is our absolute favorite place to kick off our East weekend.

East Community Breakfast
November 12 – 9:30-11am
Canopy, 916 Springdale Rd

Start your weekend off at the East Group Exhibition for breakfast tacos, drinks and a preview of nearly 300 East artists’ work. The East Group Exhibition is a series of shipping containers filled with one piece from many of the artists on the tour. This is the perfect place to narrow in on the artists you’d like to go visit at their studios.

Opening Party at White Light Studio
November 12, 6pm-12am
White Light Studio
900 Vargas Rd.

The all women art studio is hosting 15+ female artists for East with music by DJ Martha Queen, tarot readings, and free drinks! Should be a party!

Second Saturday hosted by ABP + Punctum Project
Austin Bouldering Project
November 12, 8pm
979 Springdale Rd, #150

If you haven’t been able to check out Austin Bouldering Project yet, now is the time! Punctum Records is bringing live music to ABP to celebrate and support the local talent that are their neighbors.

Left/Right Together

November 9, 2016 by Chris Perez Leave a Comment

The election hit us hard.

Witnessing a woman’s pioneer campaign for our nation’s highest office has been incredibly powerful for the women at Left/Right Media.

Our company depends on the talent, intelligence and strength of every member of our team, and today, we want to especially celebrate the girls. We are all honored to live in Austin, where women’s voices are heard and talents are valued. In the wake of the latest presidential election, we, like much of the nation, feel a sense of defeat for women everywhere. We want to help relieve that weariness by standing strong, protecting each other, and offering our support for all women who fight for their dreams.

The women in our office are uniquely extraordinary. Each of us has a story that led us to this career, and we are proud of both the struggles and triumphs we’ve experienced along the way.

“Instead of living in fear, we are making a positive change within our office walls to defend women and advocate for our values.”

Our female staff has lived through a lot of challenges – college, cross-country moves, bullying, terrible bosses, self-doubt, people telling us we’re not good enough, mansplaining, rejection, lay-offs, motherhood, unemployment and sexual assault. In spite of it all, we’re successful. We’re also champions. We remain undefeated and focus on our potential.

Let’s not waste our momentum.

On January 1, 2017, our creative agency made a commitment to women-owned or operated businesses* by offering them our web design, branding, and marketing strategy services at 79% of their full value to reflect the gender wage gap that continues to exist in the US. We hope that this helps women invest in themselves, take a leap of faith, and keep working towards their ambitions.

If we can help support you or someone you know, please email our Co-founder, Bo Duncan, and she will be in touch with you immediately.

*If you identify yours as a woman-owned or operated business, we want to hear from you. We’ll help develop your brand, your website, your content, your portfolio – all assets that will help you succeed. This is not a political thing. This is a woman thing. We will never consider race, religion, sexuality, or political affiliation in this or any other opportunity. New contracts only.